Readers here know just how big of a Superman fan I've always been, and that's largely why I'm thrilled to share that it's often been fairly widely conjectured that June 18th is the official date wherein the baby Kal-El crashed down onto our world, landing very near to the Kent farm. Now, I realize that the date is speculative -- as is Superman's greater history open to some greater theorizing -- so I'll just provide a link right here which does summarize some of the important dates in greater DC History. I acknowledge it as such, and I'm making it today's SciFi Highlight. Read on, my friends, read on!
The venerable Llewellyn Rees played the 'President' aboard "The Deadly Assassin," a mid-1970's serial of the BBC's long-running Doctor Who. Though he's no longer with us, Rees was born on this day in 1901. [Source: IMDB.com]
When Superman first appeared in the popular radio serial -- The Adventures Of Superman -- in 1940, it was the sterling voice of one Bud Collyer who voiced both the Man of Steel and his Earthly alter ego 'Clark Kent.' Though he's no longer with us, Collyer was born on this day in 1908.
While Superman was off making whoopie with Lois Lane, E.G. Marshall played the President of the United States forced to surrender to three Kryptonian villains aboard Superman II (1980). Though he's no longer with us, Marshall was born on this day in 1914. [Source: IMDB.com]
Most folks know Richard Boone as the man who played Paladin of Have Gun - Will Travel (a truly awesome show in its own right) fame from the glory days of television, but I remember his appearance in the 1977 actioner The Last Dinosaur. Though he's no longer with us, Boone was born on this day in 1917.
Robert Ellenstein certainly brought an air of gravitas to his portrayal of the Federation Council President aboard the popular Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986). Though he's no longer with us, Ellenstein was born on this day in 1923. [Source: IMDB.com]
That grim-faced Imperial officer from Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back is none other than actor Michael Sheard. As Admiral Ozzel, he offended the Dark Lord of the Sith one too many times, and I believe he was the first one Force-choked to death in TESB, though he wasn't the last. He also had several appearances as several characters in the long-running BBC juggernaut, Doctor Who. Though he's no longer with us, Sheard was born on this day in 1938.
Born on this day back in 1942, Nick Tate has had a rather impressive acting career contributing to sci-fi. Of course, he's probably best known as Alan Carter from Space:1999, but he's also had guest appearances in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The X-Files, and Farscape, to name but a few. He even holds the distinction of providing the voice to the dastardly "Prince Xizor" from the Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire video game. Thanks for all you've done, Nick, and Happy Birthday!
It takes a real woman to play a Cardassian, and the lovely Linda Thorson properly chewed scenery in the guise of 'Gul Ocett' in "The Chase," an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Thorson was born on this day in 1947. [Source: IMDB.com]
Funnyman Brian Benben (above right) made an appearance alongside Dolph Lundgren in 1990's fondly remember SciFi B-movie, Dark Angel (aka I Come In Peace). Benben was born on this day in 1956.
Veteran character actor Ralph Brown had the good fortune to appear alongside Sigourney Weaver in Alien 3; and, in 2000, he had a brief recurring stint aboard the sci-fi oddity that was Lexx. Brown was born on this day in 1957.
Stephen Marcus was a series regular on both Starhunter and Starhunter 2300 in the early 2000's, but he's also had an appearance on Doctor Who as well as reprising the role of Rudolfo in Starhunter: Transformation. Marcus was born on this day in 1962.
Actress Robin Christopher booked a pair of appearances to the world of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fairly early in its run. Christopher was born on this day in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
I've always loved Kim Dickens' work (shown at right from Hollow Man). To be honest, it first caught my eye with her performance in HBO's stellar Deadwood, but I'm thrilled that she's a part of the upcoming TV spinoff, Fear The Walking Dead. She's also had supporting roles in Lost and FastForward that had been quite good. Dickens was born on this day in 1965.
Though director Greg Yaitanes is presently best known as the driving force behind one of TV's best red-meat programs today -- Cinemax's incredible Banshee -- he did 'cut his teeth' in Science Fiction with some directing gigs aboard such franchises as Cleopatra 2525, The Invisible Man, Children of Dune, Heroes, and Lost. Yaitanes was born on this day in 1970.
Though she has appeared in many live action productions, lovely Tara Platt boasts an even more impressive resume in voice acting for animated and gaming properties. Genre fans might know her vocal talents from Sailor Moon, Supreme Commander (2007), Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, Afterworld, Final Fantasy VIII, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Star Wars: The Old Republic - Rise of the Hutt Cartel, and much much more. Platt was born on this day in 1978.
David Giuntoli has spent more than his share of time shining a little light onto the force of Fantasy darkness aboard NBC's popular Grimm. Giuntoli was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
One of Ryan Spahn's earliest professional 'gigs' was playing a Borg drone aboard an episode of Star Trek: Voyager. Spahn was born on this day in 1980. [Source: IMDB.com]
Meaghan Rath brought her winning smile and pearly whites (eyes, that is) to the role of 'Sally Malik' aboard the Americanized adaptation of the BBC's Being Human. Rath was born on this day in 1986. [Source: IMDB.com]
If you haven't yet watched Amazon.com's Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams, then consider my encouragement yet one more voice to put you on a path to discover it. Like any anthology series, there are good installments and lesser ones, but Richard Madden headlines a particularly solid chapter involving science and telepathy colliding against a backdrop of social unrest. Madden was born on this day in 1986. [Source: IMDB.com]
Mallory Jansen made a home for herself aboard such genre properties of Galavant and Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Jansen was born on this day in 1989. [Source: IMDB.com]
HBO's thrilling Game Of Thrones adaptation has certainly set the bar high for quality in the realm of Fantasy, and Jacob Anderson -- in the guise of 'Grey Worm' -- is just one of hundreds of players who've contributed to that world along the way. Anderson was born on this day in 1990. [Source: IMDB.com]
How can you make the dark, soulful eyes of Willa Holland even more intoxicating? Why, you put them under a mask! That's precisely what the showrunners for The CW's long-running Arrow learned, and they've never looked back. Holland was born on this day in 1991. [Source: IMDB.com]
Relative newcomer Sean Teale is no stranger to genre projects. He's enjoyed meaty roles aboard Reign, Syfy's Incorporated, and Fox TV's The Gifted. Teale was born on this day in 1992. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1967, Late August at the Hotel Ozone enjoyed its U.S. theatrical premiere. The feature starred Vladimír Hlavatý and Jitka Horejsi, and here's the premise as cited on IMDB.com:
"A troupe of young women on post-apocalyptic earth are lead around by a mistress born before the war, eventually stumbling into the company of a lonely old man."
"A troupe of young women on post-apocalyptic earth are lead around by a mistress born before the war, eventually stumbling into the company of a lonely old man."
Well now: doesn't THAT look sparkly? I've yet to see Nemesis I or II so the fact that there was a Nemesis III escaped me perfectly. However, the synopsis I found on IMDB.com doesn't bode well for my adding the series to my bucket list any time soon:
"Using footage left over from Nemesis 2 and a very thin story line sees Alex again fighting the cyborg mercenaries in 1998 East Africa. This time, Alex finds that she has 20 half sisters who are waiting for her to return to 2077. Central Command wants Alex captured alive and scanned to see if her DNA is a strong and more powerful strain than the normal. But Alex may be too tough for Farnsworth to capture."
"Using footage left over from Nemesis 2 and a very thin story line sees Alex again fighting the cyborg mercenaries in 1998 East Africa. This time, Alex finds that she has 20 half sisters who are waiting for her to return to 2077. Central Command wants Alex captured alive and scanned to see if her DNA is a strong and more powerful strain than the normal. But Alex may be too tough for Farnsworth to capture."
On this day in 2005, the SciFi/Telefilm SharkMan swam before our collective eyes. The feature starred Jeffrey Combs and Hunter Tylo, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A scientist tries to save his son from cancer but his experiments turn him into a shark-man instead. A group of people from a pharmaceutical corporation are sent to the mad doctor's island to investigate his activities."
"A scientist tries to save his son from cancer but his experiments turn him into a shark-man instead. A group of people from a pharmaceutical corporation are sent to the mad doctor's island to investigate his activities."
On this day in 1955, Tom Corbett, Space Cadet aired "Comet Of Danger." According to the reliable IMDB.com, here's that episode's plot summary:
"A photographer traveling with Tom, Astro and T.J. on a routine mission requests to take close-up pictures of a nearby comet with disastrous results."
"A photographer traveling with Tom, Astro and T.J. on a routine mission requests to take close-up pictures of a nearby comet with disastrous results."
On this day in 1979, Battle Of The Planets aired "Seals Of Sytron." This served as the thirty-eighth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TV.com:
"Galactor attacks Sytron, the only mining and storage facility of Galactite Hydronium for the entire earth. Galactite Hydronium is the fuel that powers Earth's spacecrafts and holds her forcefields together. G-Force must defend the island and rescue the workers."
"Galactor attacks Sytron, the only mining and storage facility of Galactite Hydronium for the entire earth. Galactite Hydronium is the fuel that powers Earth's spacecrafts and holds her forcefields together. G-Force must defend the island and rescue the workers."
On this day in 1999, Farscape aired the ninth episode of its first season. The hour was titled "DNA Mad Scientist," and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A scientist claims to have maps to large parts of the galaxy. And offers the crew a map to get to their respective homes. In exchange for the map, he wants some genetic material, he wants Pilot's arm. How far is the crew willing to go to get back home?"
"A scientist claims to have maps to large parts of the galaxy. And offers the crew a map to get to their respective homes. In exchange for the map, he wants some genetic material, he wants Pilot's arm. How far is the crew willing to go to get back home?"
On this day in 2000, Code Name: Eternity aired "Never Go Home." This served as the sixth episode of the program's first (and only) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by TV.com:
"Banning and Dent kidnap a friend of Laura's who is also a 'remote viewer', someone who can 'see' other places from a distance, to try and locate her and Ethaniel. They also visit Laura's parents, to warn them about Ethaniel and about how dangerous an individual he is. If they turn up there Banning gives them his number so that they can come and 'help' Laura."
"Banning and Dent kidnap a friend of Laura's who is also a 'remote viewer', someone who can 'see' other places from a distance, to try and locate her and Ethaniel. They also visit Laura's parents, to warn them about Ethaniel and about how dangerous an individual he is. If they turn up there Banning gives them his number so that they can come and 'help' Laura."
On this day in 2005, it all came down to this: Doctor Who aired "The Parting of the Ways," the season finale for the (restarted) program's first season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"The Dalek fleet is poised to destroy the Earth and only The Doctor, Rose, Jack and a band of television producers can stop them."
"The Dalek fleet is poised to destroy the Earth and only The Doctor, Rose, Jack and a band of television producers can stop them."
On this day in 2006, The 4400 aired "Being Tom Baldwin." This served as the second episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Tom Baldwin shoots T.J. in the head during interrogation....or did he?"
"Tom Baldwin shoots T.J. in the head during interrogation....or did he?"
On this day in 2010, A Good Knight's Quest aired the seventeenth episode of its only season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Sandrine and Raine report to Galen with their good news."
"Sandrine and Raine report to Galen with their good news."
On this day in 2013, Dark Horse Comics released a massive hardcover collection for Star Wars: Legacy, John Ostrander's look into the future of the Skywalker family about 100 years after the time of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo. If you haven't seen it, check it out, as it's very highly rated!
On this day in 1950, The Shadow radio serial aired an episode titled "Corpse In A Straw Hat." Unfortunately, the details of this adventure are lost to history as I've been unable to find a plot summary on the internet.
